OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, removed its CEO, Sam Altman because they found he wasn't always honest with the board. They don't trust him to lead anymore.
Since Altman made ChatGPT famous, he became a big name in AI talks. His unexpected departure makes people unsure about AI's future.
For now, Mira Murati, OpenAI's chief technology officer, will be the temporary CEO. They're looking for someone permanent.
The announcement mentioned that Greg Brockman, another co-founder and high-ranking executive at OpenAI, would step down as the board's chairman but remain with the company as its president.
OpenAI didn't explain what Mr. Altman's lack of honesty was about. They said his actions were making it hard for the board to do its job.
On X, Mr. Altman said, “i loved my time at openai. it was transformative for me personally, and hopefully the world a little bit. most of all i loved working with such talented people. will have more to say about what’s next later.”
The Associated Press and OpenAI have a deal letting OpenAI use part of AP's text archives.
Altman helped create OpenAI as a nonprofit research lab in 2015. But it was ChatGPT's rise that put Altman in the spotlight as the face of AI that generates things like images and text. This year, during a global tour, he was swarmed by fans at an event in London.
Sam Altman, OpenAI's former CEO, often engaged with world leaders to discuss AI's potential. He recently participated in a CEO summit and highlighted AI's transformative leap while emphasizing the need for caution due to potential risks.
Critics argue his focus on future AI risks detracts from current AI limitations and harms. OpenAI faced FTC scrutiny for alleged consumer protection violations involving their chatbot and data scraping.
The company's board includes Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever, along with three external members: Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo, tech entrepreneur Tasha McCauley, and Helen Toner from the Georgetown Center for Security and Emerging Technology.
Microsoft, OpenAI's key partner, affirmed its commitment despite the leadership transition, stating it remains dedicated to advancing AI alongside OpenAI.
Altman, known for his prowess despite lacking formal AI training, gained recognition in Silicon Valley, notably leading startup incubator YCombinator. OpenAI, initially a nonprofit, transitioned to a for-profit model in 2018, coinciding with its GPT model's release. Elon Musk's resignation from the board aimed to avert conflicts with Tesla's self-driving pursuits.
Despite OpenAI's nonprofit board structure, its business arm aimed to commercialize technology, tailoring ChatGPT for corporate use. Altman's departure shocked many, given his role in AI's face.
Analysts believe OpenAI's technical talent remains robust but foresee challenges in scaling business and navigating regulatory expectations.
While sudden, Altman's exit likely stemmed from individual issues rather than deeper business problems, per analysts. Altman's diverse ventures include Helion Energy for fusion reactors, Retro Biosciences for extending human lifespans, and Worldcoin, a biometric crypto project.
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